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Formula One awaits Sebastian Vettel’s move as series heads to U.S.

Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel is widely expected to join the Ferrari Formula One team. A report said he could be in for a three-year contract paying $80 million a year.
(Paul Gilham / Getty Images)
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As Formula One heads to the United States for its next race Nov. 2, the series is still waiting for Sebastian Vettel to officially declare which team the four-time champion will join in 2015.

The 27-year-old German is widely expected to land at Ferrari. His departure is expected to trigger a domino effect among Formula One drivers, with two-time champion Fernando Alonso seen leaving Ferrari -- perhaps to join the McLaren team -- to make room for Vettel.

Vettel confirmed early this month that he would leave his current team, Red Bull Racing, after this season. But Vettel, Alonso and the teams involved have not confirmed any other moves as Formula One prepares for the U.S. Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas course in Austin, Texas.

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With three races left in the Formula One season, former champion Lewis Hamilton -- who has won the last four races -- holds a modest 17-point lead over his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for this year’s driver’s title.

Vettel, still without a win this season, is a distant fifth in the standings after winning the championship the last four years. Vettel’s teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, has three victories this year.

If he moves to Ferrari, Vettel would be following in the footsteps of his hero and countryman Michael Schumacher, who won five of his record seven championships with Ferrari.

Ferrari, in turn, is eager to find a driver who can restore the team’s Formula One glory. Ferrari hasn’t won a race this year and the Italian team hasn’t won a driver’s title since Kimi Raikkonen, currently Alonso’s teammate, did so in 2007.

England’s Daily Mail reported early this month that Vettel was looking at a three-year contract with Ferrari that would pay him just under $80 million a year. Forbes said that would make Vettel one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Follow @PeltzLATimes for more motor racing news

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